This advert appeared in a book published in by Osborne in 1838 about the Grand Junction Railway which had just been opened between Birmingham and Manchester. About a third of the book was devoted to adverts for Birmingham products and descriptions of local institutions. A much smaller section catered for Manchester . This is an interesting insight into the way local manufacturers were funding their businesses. Perhaps we need to reinvent the money auction. My guess is that the £100 loan would be the equivalent of £50,000 - £100,000 in 2012.The interest rate is 1.5% per month! Birmingham was, at that time, the foremost manufacturing area in the world so they could afford it! Note also the evening meeting hour. No wasting good working hours!
